Trump says he’s now cutting aid to Central American countries over migrant caravan

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President Trump announced Monday that the U.S. will begin reducing or eliminating foreign aid to several Central American countries who failed to stop the massive migrant caravan that is approaching the United States and has reportedly grown to 7,000 migrants.

“Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them,” the President tweeted Monday morning.

Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them.

Last year, more than $500 million in foreign aid was sent to the three countries, according to the Associated Press.

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Authorities in Mexico estimated Sunday that the caravan now contains 7,000 migrants, most of which hail from Honduras, and that number stands after Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said an estimated 2,000 have been captured and deported to Honduras.

Last week, Trump tweeted his warning to Honduras over the funding.

“The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!” he said.

The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!

“The United States is closely following the migrant caravan, in which thousands of migrants from Honduras and other countries continue to make a dangerous journey through Guatemala and into Mexico,” said a State Department press release on Sunday.

“Many migrants are attempting to transit these countries and in the process are violating their sovereignty, their laws, and their procedures. As President Trump has stated, consistent with U.S. law, the United States will not allow illegal immigrants to enter or remain in the United States,” the statement added.